Delaware Insurance Exam Guides
Pick the license you're studying for. Each guide covers Delaware-specific requirements, fees, and official links — plus a free practice exam. Then scroll down to explore the Delaware exam's state-law material, mapped.
Free study resource
What's actually tested on the Delaware exam — the state regulations, mapped
Every Delaware insurance exam reserves a block of questions for Delaware-specific law — the fees, deadlines, limits, and rules that generic national study guides gloss over. This is that material: 98 facts from the TESTivity Delaware regulations curriculum, organized the way we teach them. Open a branch, explore, and let the structure do some of the remembering for you.
Every fact below carries its source citation and the date we last verified it (most recently July 2026) — and is re-checked on a schedule. Facts marked tested are ones you should expect to see on the exam.
Life 11 facts
The life insurance rules that differ by state — free look, grace, reinstatement.
- Incontestability period tested2 years from issue, during the insured's lifetime
- Grace period for individual life tested30 days (industrial policies: 4 weeks)
- Window to reinstate a lapsed policy tested3 years from the date of premium default (industrial policies: 2 years), on evidence of insurability and payment of overdue premiums
- Max interest chargeable on reinstatement, if capped testedOverdue premiums bear interest not exceeding 6% per year, compounded annually
- Free look when a policy is being replaced tested20 days — the right to return a replaced life policy or annuity (Regulation 1204)
- Free look for long-term care tested30 days for long-term care (18 Del. C. § 7105(f)); 30 days for Medicare supplement (18 Del. C. § 3406)
- Required nonforfeiture options testedCash surrender value, reduced paid-up insurance, extended term insurance
- Registrations required to sell variable products testedThe Life line plus FINRA securities registration; Variable is a separate Delaware line of authority
- Does the state regulate viatical/life settlements? testedYes — the Delaware Viatical Settlements Act
- Viator's rescission window testedThe earlier of 60 days after the contract is executed OR 30 days after the viator receives the proceeds
- Has the state adopted the NAIC best interest standard? testedYES — adopted in Regulation 1214, effective August 1, 2021 (aligned to the NAIC 2020 model). The producer must act in the consumer's best interest.
Health 14 facts
Health coverage rules — continuation, prompt pay, mandates, public programs.
- Has the state expanded Medicaid under the ACA? testedYES — Delaware expanded Medicaid under the ACA, effective January 1, 2014
- Effective date of expansion, if expanded testedJanuary 1, 2014
- Agency administering Medicaid testedThe Diamond State Health Plan — Delaware's Medicaid managed-care program, administered by the Division of Medicaid & Medical Assistance (DMMA)
- Federal marketplace or state-based exchange testedA FEDERALLY-FACILITATED marketplace — Delaware uses HealthCare.gov. 'Choose Health Delaware' is only an outreach brand; it is NOT a state-based exchange.
- Name of the state CHIP program testedDelaware Healthy Children Program (CHIP)
- Clean-claim payment deadline, electronic tested30 calendar days to pay, deny, or request more information on a clean claim (electronic claims must also be acknowledged within 2 business days)
- Clean-claim payment deadline, paper tested30 calendar days — Delaware applies the same 30-day clean-claim deadline to paper and electronic claims (with 15 more days after requested information is received)
- Does the state distinguish electronic vs paper claims? testedNo split — a single 30-day clean-claim deadline for both paper and electronic (electronic claims carry a separate 2-business-day acknowledgment requirement)
- Interest / penalty on late claim payment testedInterest at the maximum legal lending rate on late clean claims; three violations within 36 months are presumed to be an unfair claim-settlement practice
- Is the IRO's external review decision binding on the plan? testedYES — the Department's Independent Health Care Appeals Program uses an Independent Utilization Review Organization (IURO), and the decision is BINDING on the carrier. File within 4 months of the final internal denial; the IURO decides within 45 days (72 hours expedited).
- Employer size at which federal COBRA applies testedFederal COBRA applies at 20+ employees; Delaware's mini-COBRA covers smaller employers (1-19)
- Employer size range covered by state continuation testedDelaware's mini-COBRA applies to employers with 1 to 19 employees (below the federal COBRA threshold). The employee must have had at least 3 months of prior coverage.
- Duration of state continuation coverage testedUp to 9 months
- Max premium as % of group rate testedUp to 102% of the group premium
Auto 11 facts
Auto insurance — minimum limits, fault system, required coverages.
- Fault-based (tort) or no-fault testedFault-based (tort), but with MANDATORY no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) added on. Delaware is a tort state that also requires PIP — an 'add-on' state.
- Minimum bodily injury liability per person tested$25,000
- Minimum bodily injury liability per occurrence tested$50,000
- Minimum property damage liability tested$10,000
- The memorizable shorthand (e.g. 30/60/25) tested25/50/10
- Uninsured motorist: mandatory / must be offered & rejectable / not required testedMandatory unless rejected in writing — UM/UIM is provided at the financial-responsibility limits unless the insured rejects it in writing; UM property damage carries a $250 deductible
- Underinsured motorist status testedOffered with UM; underinsured-motorist coverage is offered up to $100,000/$300,000, rejectable in writing (18 Del. C. § 3902)
- Personal injury protection status testedMANDATORY PIP — minimum $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident, plus a $5,000 funeral benefit. PIP pays the insured's medical expenses and lost earnings regardless of fault.
- Contributory / pure comparative / modified comparative negligence testedModified comparative negligence — a 51% bar. A claimant recovers only if their negligence was NOT GREATER THAN the defendant's; damages are reduced by their share.
- The bar percentage, if modified comparative tested51% bar — a claimant whose negligence is greater than the defendant's recovers nothing; at exactly 50% they still recover
- Assigned risk / residual market plan for auto testedThe Delaware Automobile Insurance Plan (the assigned-risk market for drivers who cannot obtain coverage voluntarily)
CE & Renewal 7 facts
Continuing education and renewal rules — the numbers the exam loves.
- How long a license lasts before renewal testedTwo years (a biennial cycle running March 1 to the last day of February in even years)
- What the renewal date keys off (flat term / birthday / birth year) testedBiennial renewal
- CE hours per renewal period, standard case tested24 hours of Delaware-approved CE every two years
- CE hours if holding multiple license types (if different) testedStill 24 total — holding multiple lines does not multiply the hours
- Ethics hours required per period tested3 hours of ethics, within the 24
- What happens if CE is not completed (fine / expiry / cancellation) testedA license may not be renewed until CE is satisfied; a license not renewed lapses
- Any CE exemption (e.g. long-service agents) testedNonresidents are treated as compliant if they meet their home state's CE requirement
Property 7 facts
Property insurance — rate regulation, residual markets, catastrophe exposure.
- Rate regulation system (file-and-use / prior approval / use-and-file) testedMODIFIED PRIOR APPROVAL (a 'deemer' system) — rates must be filed at least 60 days before use and are deemed approved at 60 days unless the Commissioner acts within 45 days (the review period may be extended up to 90 days). Rates must not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory.
- Is insurance credit scoring permitted in personal lines? testedPermitted but restricted in personal lines: an insurer may not deny, cancel, or nonrenew based SOLELY on credit information, may not use income, gender, race, or ZIP code, and must treat a lack of credit history neutrally.
- Does the state have a FAIR Plan? testedYES — the Delaware Basic Property Protection Plan (an industry placement facility / joint underwriting association) makes basic property coverage available to owners who cannot obtain it in the standard market
- Name of the FAIR Plan, if any testedDelaware Basic Property Protection Plan
- Dominant catastrophe perils in the state testedHurricane and coastal windstorm along the Atlantic shore and Delaware Bay, plus flood — Delaware requires a plain-language hurricane/wind-and-hail deductible disclosure, with the trigger and a worked dollar example (18 Del. C. § 4140).
- What license you must already hold to write surplus lines testedAn active Delaware Property & Casualty producer license, plus a separate Surplus Lines Broker license
- Is a diligent-effort search of the admitted market required first? testedYes — a diligent effort to place the risk in the admitted market first
Guaranty 10 facts
The safety nets when an insurer fails — and their limits.
- Name of the life & health guaranty association testedDelaware Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association
- Life death benefit limit tested$300,000
- Life cash surrender / withdrawal value limit tested$100,000 net cash surrender value
- Annuity benefit limit tested$250,000 present value
- Health benefit limit tested$500,000 for a health benefit plan; $300,000 disability income; $300,000 long-term care; $100,000 other health
- Aggregate per-individual cap, if any tested$300,000 aggregate per life — except up to $500,000 where health benefit plan coverage is involved
- Does the state follow the standard NAIC model limits? testedYes — standard NAIC model limits, with tiered health
- Name of the P&C guaranty association testedDelaware Insurance Guaranty Association (DIGA)
- Per-claim cap testedCovered claims up to $500,000 per claimant. Unearned premium refunds are capped at $10,000. Workers' compensation claims are paid in FULL. There is no per-claim deductible; a net-worth recovery applies only to insureds with a net worth over $25 million.
- Is using the guaranty association as a sales inducement prohibited? testedYes for property & casualty — using the Delaware Insurance Guaranty Association in advertising or a sales inducement is prohibited (the life & health act carves this section out)
Workers Comp 6 facts
Who must carry workers' compensation and what it pays.
- Is workers' compensation mandatory for private employers? testedYes — mandatory, and the exclusive remedy against the employer
- Employee count at which coverage is required testedNo employee-count threshold — essentially every employer with an employee is covered. (Casual/domestic workers, farm laborers, and electing sole proprietors/partners/officers are excepted.)
- Agency administering workers' compensation testedThe Industrial Accident Board (IAB) adjudicates claims; the Office of Workers' Compensation, within the Department of Labor, administers the system
- Temporary total disability wage replacement rate tested66⅔% of the average weekly wage, capped at 66⅔% of the statewide average weekly wage (minimum 22 2/9% of the statewide AWW, or the full wage if lower)
- Deadline to file a claim testedNotice to the employer within 90 days; a claim must be filed within 2 years of the accident (occupational disease: 1 year from knowledge; reopening: within 5 years of the last payment)
- Ways an employer may comply (insure / self-insure / group) testedInsure with a licensed carrier, or qualify as an approved self-insurer
Regulator 5 facts
Who regulates insurance here and what powers the office holds.
- Name of the state insurance regulator testedThe Delaware Department of Insurance (DOI)
- Title of the person who heads it testedInsurance Commissioner
- How the commissioner is chosen: elected / appointed by governor / appointed by other body testedELECTED by the voters of Delaware to a four-year term — not appointed
- Where the state's insurance law is codified testedTitle 18 of the Delaware Code (the Insurance Code), with regulations in Title 18 of the Delaware Administrative Code
- Does the regulator sit somewhere unusual (e.g. inside a constitutional commission)? testedNo — a conventional standalone department, but headed by an ELECTED Commissioner
Cancellation 7 facts
When and how policies can be canceled or nonrenewed — heavily tested.
- Initial window during which an insurer may cancel more freely tested60 days — auto. During the first 60 days of a new private passenger auto policy the insurer may cancel more freely (an underwriting period); after that, cancellation is limited to statutory grounds.
- Notice days to cancel a homeowners policy inside the initial window tested30 days for homeowners cancellation (general); 10 days for nonpayment. A written reason is required.
- Notice days to cancel a personal auto policy inside the initial window tested30 days' advance notice for auto cancellation on permitted grounds; 15 days for nonpayment. A reason is required.
- Notice days for cancellation for nonpayment tested15 days for nonpayment of premium (auto); 10 days for homeowners
- Notice days for cancellation for other permitted causes tested30 days for permitted causes (auto and homeowners)
- Notice days required for nonrenewal tested30 days' advance written notice of nonrenewal (auto and homeowners), and the reason must be stated; for homeowners, failure to give notice means the policy is deemed renewed
- Must the reason be stated proactively, on request, or not at all? testedYes — a specific reason must be stated for both cancellation and nonrenewal (auto and homeowners)
Licensing 20 facts
How you get and keep the license — exams, fees, applications, background checks.
- Is there a standalone life license/exam? testedYes — Life
- Is there a standalone health license/exam? testedYes — Accident and Health
- Is there a combined life+health license/exam? testedNo single combined Life & Health exam — Delaware's exams are per line. A candidate pursuing both sits the Life exam and the Accident & Health exam separately (though both may be scheduled the same day for a single exam fee).
- Is there a personal lines license/exam? testedYes — Personal Lines
- Is P&C one combined license, or split into Property and Casualty? testedSeparate lines — Delaware offers Property and Casualty as SEPARATE exams and lines of authority (plus a narrower Personal Lines line). There is no single combined P&C exam.
- Does the life license cover annuities? testedYes — annuities are sold under the Life line (variable products require the Life line plus FINRA registration)
- Does the P&C license already include personal lines authority? testedNo — Personal Lines is its own line, but holding Property and Casualty covers personal-lines risks
- Full list of exam-based agent license types testedOne Delaware Producer license listing any of: Life · Accident and Health · Property · Casualty · Personal Lines · Surety · Marine & Transportation · Variable · Credit · Title · Travel — plus separate Surplus Lines and Bail Agent credentials
- Exam administrator (Prometric / PSI / Pearson VUE) testedPearson VUE — physical test centers only (walk-in examinations are not available)
- Exam fee tested$90 per examination — but a single $90 fee covers more than one MAJOR line taken the same day (for example, Life and Accident & Health together), except Personal Lines
- License application fee tested$125 for the resident producer license (and $125 to renew each biennium)
- Fee per insurer appointment tested$50 per appointment, per insurer
- Passing score tested70%
- Minimum age to be licensed tested18 (the standard minimum age for a resident producer)
- Is pre-licensing education required? testedNO — Delaware does NOT require pre-licensing education. The Department does not prescribe a pre-licensing course or otherwise pre-screen candidates before the exam.
- Pre-licensing hours and any exceptions (e.g. Title, adjusters) testedNone — no pre-licensing education is required in Delaware. Candidates are encouraged to study the Pearson VUE content outlines, but no course completion is mandated.
- Fingerprints, state police report, or none testedA Delaware State Police State Criminal Background Report is obtained by the applicant and submitted to the Department (faxed to 302-736-7906) with the NIPR application
- Who takes the prints / issues the report testedDelaware State Police (State Criminal Background Report), submitted with the NIPR application
- Notice required to reschedule/cancel without forfeiting the fee testedCall Pearson VUE at least 48 hours before the exam to change or cancel a reservation, or the fee is forfeited
- Where you apply (Sircon / NIPR / state portal) testedNIPR (nipr.com)